PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Later...with Jools Holland-Party (2003)

Later...with Jools Holland-Party (2003)

If you create a user account, you can add your own review of this DVD

Released 29-Jan-2004

Cover Art

This review is sponsored by
BUY IT

Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Music Main Menu Introduction
Main Menu Audio & Animation
Custom Play
Credits
Rating Rated E
Year Of Production 2003
Running Time 126:25
RSDL / Flipper RSDL (61:47) Cast & Crew
Start Up Menu
Region Coding 4 Directed By Janet Fraser Crook
Studio
Distributor

Warner Vision
Starring Jools Holland
Case Amaray-Transparent-Secure Clip
RPI $34.95 Music None Given


Video Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame None English Linear PCM 48/16 2.0 (1536Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio 1.75:1
16x9 Enhancement
16x9 Enhanced
Video Format 576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio Varies Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles English
French
German
Spanish
Smoking No
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits No

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

    This DVD is the latest in a string of releases based upon Jools Holland's obviously successful British television show Later... which features musical performances from many UK and international musical stars. I was vaguely aware of Jools Holland due to his appearance on the Concert for George DVD and having heard his name from time to time. The show has been running on British television for over 10 years and this disc features highlights from his New Year's Eve specials held each year since 1995 (or at least that is the date of the earliest clips on this disc). As with all compilation musical DVDs, the quality of performances is variable and your individual enjoyment is driven by your particular musical bent.

    Personally, I found this disc to be very enjoyable as it contains a large number of performances (34 in total) including many great artists. The large number of performances should mean that most people will find a large number of tracks here that they enjoy, assuming that the artists are of interest. In addition to the artists mentioned in the track listing below there are also tracks by Paul Heaton & Dave Rotheray, Bryan Ferry & Jeff Beck. There is also an additional Solomon Burke track. Unfortunately, our track listing function is limited to 30 tracks. All tracks are accompanied by a large R&B orchestra led by Jools himself on piano. The band is excellent throughout and seems to consist mostly of the same personnel from year to year.

   For my particular musical tastes, the highlights were the great soul singer Solomon Burke, reggae star Jimmy Cliff, Edwin Starr sounding like he did in the 60s, Dr John, Beverley Knight, Sharleen Spiteri from Texas, B.B. King, Tom Jones & Cerys Matthews & Ruby Turner. Other artists who were big surprises for me that I enjoyed were David McAlmont and Paul Heaton/David Rotheray. Most of the other material was also enjoyable with the exception of Kirtsy MacColl murdering a classic Ella Fitzgerald tune, Chrissie Hynde, Ronnie Wood (who should leave the singing to Mick), Gabrielle and Marc Almond. If instrumental prowess is what you are after check out B.B. King, Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck's stunning guitar work and the whole band's marvellous performance on Mick Hucknall's version of the blues classic T-Bone Shuffle.

    Basically if you like a fair smattering of these artists and the sound of a large R&B orchestra at work, this disc is recommended.

Don't wish to see plot synopses in the future? Change your configuration.

Track Listing

1. Solomon Burke-Everybody needs someb
2. Ray Davies-You really got me
3. Robert Plant-Let the boogie woogie
4. Jimmy Cliff-You can get it if you r
5. Huey Morgan-Fly me to the moon
6. Edwin Starr-War
7. Roisin Murphy-The time is now
8. Dr.John-Such a night
9. Beverly Knight-A change is gonna co
10. Kirsty MacColl-Miss Otis regrets
11. Kelly Jones-Handbags and gladrags
12. Tom Jones & Jeff Beck-Be bop a lula
13. Eric Clapton-Reconsider baby
14. Ronnie Wood-Ooh la la
15. Chas'N'Dave-Ain't no pleasing you
16. Paul Weller-Will it go round in cir
17. Sharleen Spiteri-Surrender
18. Chrissie Hynde-Out of this world
19. Jools Holland-I'm in a dancing mood
20. Gabrielle-Give me a little more tim
21. David McAlmont-Misty blue
22. BB King-Eyesight to the blind
23. John Cale-I wanna be around
24. Tom Jones & Cerys Matthews-Baby it'
25. Gary Brooker-A whiter shade of pale
26. Steve Winwood-I'm a man
27. Mick Hucknall-T-Bone shuffle
28. Marc Almond-Say hello wave goodbye
29. Sam Brown-Cry to me
30. Ruby Turner-That's all

Transfer Quality

Video

    The video quality ranges from reasonable to excellent dependent upon the year of the particular performance. Performances from 1995 & 1996 tend to be grainy and slightly blurry, from the next three years just slightly grainy and then from 2000 to 2003 excellent.

    The feature is presented in a 1.75:1 aspect ratio 16x9 enhanced which is probably the original aspect ratio for most of this footage as the BBC has been transmitting in widescreen for a few years. This is probably not true for the earlier footage, however, it is not a big issue.

    The picture was generally clear and sharp throughout (except as noted above) with no evidence of low level noise. Shadow detail was fine.

    The colour was generally very good throughout with all colours being well saturated and free from colour bleeding. The skin colouring was very natural. The colour was a bit washed out in the 1995 & 1996 clips.

    I did not notice any artefacts of any kind.

    There are subtitles in four European languages including English, however they only cover the short spoken introductions to each song so are fairly useless.

    This is a dual layered disc and the layer change is well placed between tracks at 61:47.
    

Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The audio quality is very good, but as it is stereo, it is very front focussed.

    This DVD contains only one audio option: English Linear PCM 48/16 2.0 (1536Kb/s). This of course is full bitrate and non-compressed which makes for at least CD quality music.

    Dialogue was clear and easy to understand as were most vocals. Two tracks were badly mixed with the vocals being swamped by the instruments. These were Steve Winwood & Robert Plant. I believe this would be an issue with the original recording rather than the transfer. 

    There were no problems with audio sync as all music was live.    

    The band and the music sounded excellent throughout.

    The surround speakers were not used at all.

    The subwoofer added bass to the music when played using Dolby ProLogic II.

    

Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

Menu

    The menu was 16x9 enhanced, included great music and allowed for the user to choose a particular track or to program six favourite tracks to play. Music Credits were also available as a separate selection.

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

    This disc is available in Region 1 in exactly the same configuration except it is NTSC.

Summary

    This disc contains 34 musical tracks from Jools Holland's New Years Eve's specials from 1995 to 2003 by a variety of well known artists. It comes recommended.

    The video quality ranges from reasonable to excellent.

    The audio quality is very good.

    The disc has no extras to speak of.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Daniel Bruce (Do you need a bio break?)
Friday, June 04, 2004
Review Equipment
DVDToshiba 1200, using Component output
DisplaySony FD Trinitron Wega KV-AR34M36 80cm. This display device is 16x9 capable. This display device has a maximum native resolution of 576i (PAL)/480i (NTSC).
Audio DecoderBuilt in to DVD Player, Dolby Digital and DTS.
AmplificationPioneer VSX-511
SpeakersBose 201 Direct Reflecting (Front), Phillips SB680V (Surround), Phillips MX731 (Center), Yamaha YST SW90 (Sub)

Other Reviews NONE